10 am
"Are we going to watch the whole project going down?" Josh exclaimed.
He just had a thing for going on a full knight with a sword mode whenever it was a team meeting. No one at the table had a clue why he was being irritable. A few of them gossiped that Josh had a classic case of cooties before the presentation, and as a result, he would talk loud, be a bit bossy, and blatantly throw drama on their faces. A lot of them hated that, but I appreciated it when one could see his raw manliness. It was like watching the innocent, the then calm and quiet Clark Kent transforming into his insanely hot and brave alter ego - Superman. To think that I was a sole observer of the transformation gave me a different kind of high. In the past 24 hours, I had seen two men undergo a 360-degree, and the headache throbbing through my forehead couldn't help me to decide which one was best-
Watching Josh go berserk with the project meet or to see drunk Will Turner offering me dinner and then passing out.
"Eva, would you please get me a coffee, dear?" He said.
Josh pointed toward me as his forehead creased with worry while he analyzed some statistical piece of data that he was to demonstrate.
"Sure."
I almost wanted to mutter a gospel and thank God for the moment. Josh asked me to get him a cup of coffee! We were good friends, but I always hoped we could be more. He would turn in every morning, dressed perfectly in a three-piece suit. His hair combed to perfection, his rectangular glasses sitting smartly on the small of his nose, and his flashing smile- gave me all the more reason to go through another day in this office. It could be funny to think a few people can add more than a strong will to live our lives. Now that I had read the diary yesterday, I couldn't help but wonder who the girl was!
I made my way to the espresso machine. Nervous interns, senior subordinates, and struggling authors waited with their manuscripts. People who came to the common hall had a sole motto of living sane - for some, it was an espresso shot, others' was being/getting a good editor, and maybe both for some.
There wasn't much of a queue for espresso. I was waiting with two cups- one for me and one for Josh when I felt a silence engulfing the common hall. What the hell happened? I turned around to see Will, dressed in a navy blue three-piece suit making his way to the Espresso Machine. Memories from morning rushed into my head. Holy Crap.
"Mellon, could I please have a moment?" Will said.
"Sure. I could get back to you in five minutes. I have a cup of coffee to deliver somewhere."
I said in an attempt to stay away from him. Last night was a long one, and I need not wait for Tyranny to remember everything that happened today. Friends was okay outside work, but right now? Hell no. I knew the feeling was mutual. If he could threaten to behead me when drunk, there was worse he could do when awake and fully clothed. I now knew why half of the Bexley staff kept their distance from him and decided against having any rebels, but then I had to give Josh his much-awaited coffee.
"Well, I didn't know you are working as a waitress at Bexley's, Mellon." He chuckled.
"It's for a friend, Mr. Turner. " I said.
I fled from the room and looked for Josh, still weary from his pre-presentation gig.
"Calm down, Josh. You'll be great." I reassured.
"You think?" He said matter-of-factly.
"Here, your coffee. I gotta catch up with Tyranny, or Tyranny will come here breathing down our necks." I said, handing out his cup.
For a moment, Josh stopped dead from whatever note-making he was doing. His blue eyes fixated behind me.
"Mellon, I thought we were talking." Will's voice echoed in my ears.
I turned around to look at him. How much had he heard? Josh gave me a sympathetic look.
"In my office! Now!"He said and walked away.
I followed him straight out, stopping for a second to catch my breath. Why do I always have to let him intimidate me? I wish I could resign, but then I would just die bankrupt. I didn't knock and sprung open the door that closed behind me.
"Mr. Turner, you asked for me?" I said, pretending to be oblivious.
I put on my best smile. I was hoping Will would forget what he listened back there.
"You know your sharp tongue can land you in trouble?" He said blankly.
"I am sorry," I said, almost as if it were a habit to apologize to him now and then.
Why am I always goofed up around his jerk-ass self?
"You don't work half bad, and therefore I would like you to manage the 'Creative Development' Team. The thirty manuscripts you have produced in such a short time are exemplary."
"But Josh- I mean, Mr.Harris is in-charge of the Creative Dev Team. I can't go in and manage that..."
"I don't like to repeat myself. I run Bexley's, and my decisions are not entitled to change per your cordial relations with your potential love interests, Mellon. These are Chair's orders!" He smiled slyly.
My eyes went wide. The boomers approved of me! Gosh, something good was happening.
Or so I thought.
"Will, please try to understand that it might complications, as the clients had joined in because of Mr.Harris. I can't drop in out of anywhere. It will be hard to convince them." I said, thinking about Josh.
Not only was he already involved with someone from the office, but getting his position will only mean a further drift! What if he takes me as nothing but competition at the workplace? That would only mean kissing the idea of dating goodbye.
"Leave it all up to me, Mellon...and call me Mr. Turner. I won't tolerate casualty in business hours."
Okay, so he doesn't remember a thing from his drunk files of life. Understandable. I didn't want more threats from him anyways.
"Of course, Mr. Turner." I let out a sigh.
"Help me with the presentation while you are at it. Include a few statistical insights I have brought into the PowerPoint and don't leave my office till I tell you otherwise." He motioned me to the opposite end of his desk.
I was wondering if I could go and have a little chat with Josh before anything happens, but it seemed like the odds were against it.
"Sure thing," I said reluctantly.
I knew his secret aim in life was to make my time at Bexley's miserable, bucketlist followed or not. I had left my cellphone on my desk, and there was no way to tell Josh about the change in plans. If he comes to know about it, maybe he would be hurt. He worked so hard on it. The data looked like lengthy figures from a crucial census survey. I wasn't sure if the demography Will had drawn out the stats around was our targeted one. I did what he told me to, and five minutes before the presentation, he told me to escort him out.
The elevator took us to the 112th floor. Bexley's presentation room was an entire floor at Trivia. It was more of an auditorium but only a bit better than that. I looked like a misfit beside a strong-willed, cruel, and heartless CEO. He looked like he could take down cities with a stare, while I looked more like someone slapped awake on a Sunday morning - cowardly, reluctant, and nervous.
I had been to meetings before, but never had I ever been the one in charge of a team, or was about to be appointed as one.
All eyes rested on us as we made it along the aisle. Josh sat on the opposite end of the table. I wanted to get a seat beside him when Tyranny Turner got a hold of me and told me to sit beside him. His fingers went on to hold my hand, and I couldn't help but look into his eyes. His grip turned stronger, and he whispered in my ear-
"Calm down. Things will be fine, Eva." His voice had a raspy touch to it.
I felt my core tighten. A spray of warmth spread across me. My breath was a bit unhinged, and my eyes dreamy. Was it just me, Will was trying to be motivating once in this lifetime?Is he for real'?
The meeting commenced.